Aerial machine.



R. W. LINVILLE.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED r1111. 21'. 1910.

Patnted Dec. 12, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, Dv c.

R. W. LINVILLE. AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 17:13.21, 1910.

1,011,454, I Patented Dec.12,1911.

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ROBERT W. LINVILLE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AERIAL MACHINE.

Application filed February 21, 1910. Serial No. 544,977.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

4 Be it known that I, ROBERT W. LINVILLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in AerialMachines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to aerial machines, and particularly to heavierthan air-machines.

The object of this invention is to provide an air-ship so designed andconstructed that it is capable of lifting itself vertically from theground without a running start; and one which may be driven eitherforward or backward without recourse to reversing the en gine; andfurther to provide a novel, reliable and simple lifting mechanism.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction andcombinations of parts as .hereinafter more fully described and claimed,having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aplan of the machine, in partial section. Fig. 2 is a central, verticalsec tion. Fig. 3 is a detail of the adjustable slide. Fig. 4 is a detailof the valves,

My invention comprehends the employment of any appropriate style offrame or skeleton structure or chassis A, of suitable material, uponwhich is mounted a trans- 4. These disks are preferably disposedathwartships, the outer ones C being about one-half the area of thecenter disk B.

To make the disks eifeetive as lifting devices and to avoid resistanceas they ascend, they are perforated, as at 8, and in these perforationsare operable a large number of mushroom or puppet valves 9, eachpreferably concavo-convex in form and having a rod 10 guided in abracket 11 securely attached to the under side of the disk. The severalvalves 9 are individually supported in their closed positionby a verylight expansion spring 9', or other device, and in operation of thedisks the valves 9 will open, as the disks move up, letting air rushthrough the perforations 8, and will quickly close as the disks stop.When descending, the valves seat firmly against the valve seats 12 andpresent a resisting surface in common with the disks, which, when drawndown by the eccentrics, effectively exert a lifting force overcominggravity and elevating the machine.

In order to reciprocate the disks up and down, the stem 4 of each diskis guided in an adjustable slide or frame 5 pivoted upon the V shaft 2,and each stem 4 is connected to pitman straps 6 of eccentrics 7 securedon the shaft 2. The eccentrics are arranged in alternate position sothat when the shaft 2 is rotated the central eccentric raises its disk Bas the outer disks 0 are pulled down by their eccentrics.

The rapidity with Which the disks are re ciprocated determines the speedwith which the machine rises, and by tilting the slide frame 5 eitherforward or backward the angular position of the disks'eXerts a pullingenergy on the machine to drive it forward or backward, or to allow theplanes or disks to be set at any desired angle in case the machine is tobe driven forward by the propeller 30.

The tilting of the central frame 5 and its disk B is obtained bymounting a pinion 13 (Figs. 2, 3) on the central frame 5 and having itengage a fixedrack 14. A crank 15 also journaled on the central frame 5,and within easy reach of the operator, operates to revolve the pinion 13through the worm 13. All the frames 5 and their aeroplane propellingdisks B, ,G are tiltable independently. Each of the'outer tiltableframes 5 is connected by a cable 17 to a drum 18, which latter issecured on an independent countershaft 19 journaled on the chassis A andturnable by a crank and worm-gear 20. This provides means whereby theouter disks, as well as the central one, may be each adjustedindependently by the operator Without necessitating his leaving thecenter of the machine.

In order to steer up and down when in flight, a forward, horizontallifting plane 21 is pivoted at 22 to the chassis A, and is operable bymeans of an endless cable 23, having upper and lower sections running toan operating drum 24; the lower section passing over underneath sheaves24. Similarly, an endless cable 25 connects with a rear, verticalsteeringrudder 26.

In addition to and supplementing the lifting and propelling disks B, C,there may or may not be employed the usual propeller 30. If desired, themachine may be provided with wheels 31 to assist in starting and.landing. Of course, ordinarily in rising by means of the lifting andpropelling planes B, C, there may be no need for either the wheels 31 orthe propeller 30. Nevertheless, there are offered by my construction twomeans of propulsion and of maintaining flight.

When in flight, the planes B, C may be set at any angle desired, and themachine propelled forward by the propeller 30, or by suitably settingthe planes B, C and stopping the propeller the device may be used as aglider; additional control of the machine being provided by the fronthorizontal steering plane 21.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent, is:

1. In an aerial machine, the combination with a suitable chassis, of aplurality of disk-like planes disposed athwartships, a vertical shaftfor each plane, and means for reciprocating the planes in a verticaldirection, one of said planes being centrally disposed on the machineand being of considerably greater diameter or area than the otherplanes, said means including a stem for each plane, a guide therefor,pitman straps connecting with the stems, and eccentrics encircled bysaid straps.

2. In an aerial machine, the combination with a suitable chassis, of aplurality of disk-like planes disposed athwartships, a vertical shaftfor each plane, and means for reciprocating the planes in a verticaldirection, one of said planes being centrally disposed on the machineand being of considerably greater diameter or area than the otherplanes, said means including a power posed on the machine and being ofconsiderably greater diameter or area than the other planes, said meansincluding a power shaft, a vertically guided stem on each plane, pitmanstraps connecting with the stems, and eccentrics on said shaft andembraced by the straps, said eccentrics being arranged in alternateposition whereby the central and outer planes are moved in unison inopposite directions, each of said planes having numerous openings withvertically guided spring-pressed disk valves therein.

4. In an air-ship, a frame, a plurality of propellers disposedathwartships and of dif ferent diameters, each of said propellersconsisting of a perforated plane with independent non-contacting,reciprocatory guided valves, a motor whereby said propellers may bereciprocated, forward steering and inclining rudders, and means wherebysaid propellers may be inclined forward or backward.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT WV. LINVILLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

